Wintersville man sentenced in arson case

July 4, 2013

STEUBENVILLE - A man who twice tried to light his house on fire was sentenced on Wednesday in Jefferson County Common Pleas Court.

John E. Adams, 48, of 181 Talbott Drive, Wintersville, was sentenced to six months in the Eastern Ohio Correction Center by Judge Joseph Bruzzese Jr. on a charge of aggravated arson.

Adams was arrested by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department after deputies said he lit two fires inside his home on Bantam Ridge Road, Wintersville, on Jan. 11.

The state fire marshal's office investigated and found the fire was lit in two places. Gasoline cans also were found inside, the sheriff's department reported.

Adams lit a fire in the basement near a hot water tank and a water pipe burst, putting out the fire, the county prosecutor's reported. Adams then lit a recliner on fire.

Adams was arrested at the scene of the fire and charged with interfering with emergency personnel and menacing. Adams pleaded guilty to those charges in Toronto county court and was fined $350 and served seven days in jail.

Adams will be on probation for two years following his release from the Eastern Ohio Correction Center. He faces up to eight years in prison if he violates probation.